About hearing protection

Are Elacin earplugs tested?

All Elacin earplugs are tested and certified and bear the European CE label. Earplugs are products that are legally covered by the “personal protection equipment” directive. This means that they must be comprehensively tested by a certified institute (such as the TNO). If all the requirements are met, a product is awarded the CE label and the full specifications are listed in a manual. Earplugs without the CE label are not certified.

Can I have the filters changed?

Yes, you can have the filters changed free of charge up to two weeks after purchasing the earplugs. Contact your audiologist or our Customer Service department to arrange this.

Can I try the earplugs before buying them?

Unfortunately, this is not possible because earplugs are custom-made to suit individual specifications. But our sound demonstrations let you experience the benefits of the various types of earplugs before you buy.

Are Elacin earplugs also available for purchase abroad?

Yes. Under ‘Store Locator’, you will shortly be able to find a list of all the audiologists and suppliers in Europe who sell Elacin earplugs.

How long do you keep the ear impressions?

We keep ear impressions for eight weeks. Heat and cold cause them to deform, so they can no longer be used to produce good quality earplugs after that point.
This is also why we do not return ear impressions.

How long does a repair take?

Our aim is to return your earplugs within five business days of receipt. If we have to make new earplugs, the standard delivery time is 10 to 15 business days.

Is it true that the best filter is always the strongest one?

This is often misunderstood. Over-attenuation is as dangerous as under-attenuation.
With over-attenuation, you are disconnected from your environment, which can result in hazardous situations. This can especially be the case when in traffic.

What degree of attenuation is provided by Elacin earplugs?

The Elacin range offers a variety of filters (models). You can read what type of filter is most suitable for each hearing protector in our product overview. An audiologist can provide you with more detailed information.

What is the average product lifespan of Elacin hearing protection?

Elacin earplugs have an average product lifespan of four years. It is not determined by the quality of the material; rather, it depends on the fact that the shape of your ear canal changes continuously throughout your life. This means that your earplugs may not fit as tightly, so they do not create a proper seal and sound attenuation is inadequate.

For optimum protection, you should have your ears measured for new earplugs every four years. The recommended replacement date is indicated on the grey customer details card that is enclosed with the earplugs.

We recommend that children and adolescents under 16 are checked annually to ensure their earplugs still fit properly and can attenuate sound.

What is the best way to look after my earplugs?

To maintain a high level of hygiene, we recommend that you clean your earplugs regularly with a damp cloth and then dry them with a soft cloth. You can also use cleaning tablets or Elacin cleaning spray.

What is the difference between a ‘soft’ and a ‘hard’ hearing protector?

Soft hearing protectors made of silicone have only been on the market for a few years. They are comfortable to wear in the ear and adjust to the movements of the ear canal, as the wearer talks, for example. This hearing protector therefore seals the ear better than a hard one.
Hard hearing protectors are made of acrylic. These are the oldest and most well-known form of custom-made hearing protectors and are very easy to insert into the ear canal. In many cases, a hard hearing protector is the best solution for people with very narrow ear canals.

What types of hearing protectors are there?

Hearing protectors can be divided into two groups:
• Earmuffs
• Earplugs

Earmuffs
Earmuffs surround the auricle (outer ear) and are sealed against the head with soft padding. A flexible headband (over the head) connects the earmuffs and ensures that they fit correctly.
Advantages of earmuffs:
• Quick and easy to use
• Immediately available, fit everyone
• No discomfort if one has ear canal problems
• Good attenuation of high frequencies

Disadvantages of earmuffs:
• Unpleasant weight and pressure on the head
• Very uncomfortable in high temperatures
• Loss of “hearing direction” (localisation of the source of sound)

Earplugs

Earplugs are worn in the ear canal or seal it to exclude noise. Earplugs are divided into three groups:
• Disposable
• Preformed
• “Custom-made”

(1) Disposable earplugs
These are made of memory foam that first has to be rolled into a compressed cylinder before being inserted into the ear canal. Once inserted, the foam expands to its normal dimensions, sealing the ear canal. They are intended for single use. It is essential that they are inserted correctly and deeply enough to ensure sufficient attenuation.
(2) Preformed earplugs
These are inserted directly into the ear canal or seal the entrance to it. They can be used several times and can be cleaned. Here too, it is essential that they are placed correctly and deeply enough to ensure sufficient attenuation.

Advantages (disposable and preformed):
• Immediately available and fit most users
• No uncomfortable weight or pressure on the head
• No discomfort in warm surroundings
• No distortion of directional hearing

Disadvantages (disposable and preformed):
• Degree of protection is highly dependent on correct insertion — practice is needed.
Because they gradually loosen, it is necessary and important to keep putting them back
in to ensure sufficient protection.
• Discomfort due to pressure in the ear canal
• Limited range of attenuation levels

(3) Custom-made earplugs
These are individually custom-made to fit the user’s external ear canal. The ear canal is sealed by the earplug, and the acoustic filter determines the required attenuation.
Advantages (compared with disposable and preformed):
• Maximum comfort — especially for long-term use, easy to use, secure and stable seal that ensures a high level of protection certainty.
• A broad range of filters offers provides the best possible attenuation level, retention of perception of signals and sounds, and, what is more, continuous ventilation of the ear canal.

Disadvantages: Not immediately available (delivery time), relatively high investment in initial purchase, but pays in the long run.

Our broad range of sound filters makes it easy to choose the right protection.

Custom-made hearing protection allows you to continue communicating with others normally, and there is no need to worry about feeling pressure in your ears.

In short: a custom-made hearing protector is the ideal solution for all noisy situations.